Archive: Performances and Events

Free Early Bird Dance Party at Communal Studio

Do you love to dance but can’t stand the club scene or can’t stay up late? We’ve got the event for you!

Free Early Bird Dance Party for 21+
Saturday, May 31, 7:00-10:00pm

Come, bring your friends, party like it’s 1999, and then go to bed at a reasonable hour.
We will have a DJ and fancy lights to get you in the mood.

Please register, as we have limited space. Thank you!

The SOTA Movement: Minnesota’s Street Dance Festival

The SOTA Movement is Minnesota’s premier street dance festival—a dynamic celebration of dance, culture, and community rooted in the powerful traditions of Hip Hop. This multi-day event unites artists, creators, and supporters to honor the vibrant spirit of street dance.

Friday, June 13 at 6:00pm
Saturday, June 14 at 10:00am
Sunday, June 15 at 10:00am
Located at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul.

From the empowering Celebration of Women in Hip Hop to high-energy battles, award winning performances, and immersive workshops, the SOTA Movement offers a platform for expression, connection, and cultural exchange. Join us in celebrating the artistry and resilience of the street dance community.

Experience the movement. Be part of the culture.

For more information and to stay updated, visit sotamove.com.

Discover Dance: Continental Ballet, Concerto Dance, and Threads

Bloomington Center for the Arts Presents the 2025 Discover Dance series featuring performances in multiple dance styles for audiences of all ages to discover and experience the joy and power of dance!

The program includes the Continental Ballet Company performing excerpts from the classical ballet Sleeping Beauty, jazz dance works by Concerto Dance including Tradition, set to a jazz arrangement of selections from the Fiddler on the Roof score, and the jazz/funk audience favorite On Our Way, along with Threads Dance Project performing Objet de Désir Inaccessible: a poignant exploration of racism, feminism, identity and the concepts of beauty inspired by the renowned painting “Portrait of Madeleine” (formerly titled Portrait of a Negress).

Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14
7:00-8:30pm
Bloomington Center for the Arts – Schneider Theater
Run Time: Approximately 90 minutes with a 15 minute intermission

Tickets
Students/Adults: $15-$25 (+fees)
Ages 5 and under: Free

For move information, visit www.blm.mn/bca.

ARENA DANCES Presents the 9th Annual CANDY BOX Dance Festival

The CANDY BOX Dance Festival is a week-long dynamic sampling of featured performances, master classes, and in-progress showings, hosted by ARENA DANCES and presented April 23-26 at The Southern Theater. The CANDY BOX Dance Festival features both emerging and established choreographers, Happy Hour work-in-progress performances, and master class offerings. Tickets are on sale now with prices from $10-$27.

Featured Artists Performances: April 24-26, 7:30pm and April 26, 2:00pm
Doma Dance Theater
Flying Foot Forum
Cheng “Technica” Xiong
Featured Artists Tickets; Saturday’s matinee is pay-as-able.

Happy Hour Artists Showings: April 23-25, 5:30pm
Wednesday – Yukina Sato
Thursday – Nieya Amezquita and Kaitlyn Hawkins
Friday – Nervous Theatre
Happy Hour Tickets

Master Classes: April 23-25, 4:00pm
Wednesday – Joe Chvala of Flying Foot Forum
Thursday – Cheng “Technica” Xiong
Friday – Connor Berkompas of NERVOUS THEATRE
Master Class Tickets

A very special thanks to our sponsors: Sher Demeter and City of Minneapolis Arts and Cultural Affairs Department – Cultural District Arts Fund Initiative.

TU Dance Celebrates 20 Years at The O’Shaughnessy

Join us in the spring of 2025 as TU Dance celebrates its 20th anniversary and marks this significant milestone by featuring the works of prominent and renowned African American choreographers who have been supportive and connected to TU Dance since its inception.

Works will include Alvin Ailey’s Witness, an excerpt from Ronald K. Brown’s Four Corners, Alonzo King’s MA (duet from Who Dressed You Like A Foreigner?), and an excerpt from Camille A. Brown’s New Second Line and Yusha-Marie Sorzano’s recently premiered work This World Anew, commissioned as part of the Edges of Ailey exhibition at the Whitney Museum. TU Dance is deeply honored to share works by makers that have contributed so richly to the American dance landscape through their multidimensional perspectives while voicing the shared human experience, which has been core to our own twenty-year history.

Thursday, April 24 at 10:30am – Educational Performance
Friday, April 25 at 7:30pm
Saturday, April 26 at 7:30pm

Tickets can be purchased online or by contacting The O’Shaughnessy Ticket Office at 651-690-6700.

Festival of Friends

Barátok Belly Dance Company proudly presents the 3rd Annual Festival of Friends Show and Artisan Market! Join us for an evening of exceptional entertainment: music, dance, comedy, and danger all in one show. You won’t want to miss some of Minnesota’s top performing groups showcasing their talents all on one stage at the beautiful LUSH Lounge and Theater in Northeast Minneapolis.

Hosted by Barátok Belly Dance Company featuring The Naughty Bawdy Brigade, The Dregs and Kazimir The Hungry.

Saturday, April 26 at 7:00pm — doors open at 6:00pm

Ticket Information
There isn’t a bad seat in this beautiful theater, but we have a ticket option for every budget. Every ticket includes a raffle ticket to use with the vendor of your choice! Any seating option can be adjusted to accommodate any size party. Please don’t hesitate to purchase the ticket of your choice, just note, you could be sat with another party. The good news is, this is The Festival of Friends, so why not make a few more while you’re here!

Bar Seating: $25 – Elevated bar seats available at bar within the theater.
General Admission: $35 – Chairs in middle of audience. Dinner service in the theater is unavailable for this option.
Elevated General Admission: $45 – Elevated seating at high-top table with 4 or 8 people per table. Purchase group tickets together to ensure you are sat together. Section located right behind General Admission.
Premium Plus Seating: $55 – Premium Seating with table and a complimentary glass of Cava sparkling wine. Premium Plus Seating is the first two rows of two tops and booth seating. Purchase group tickets together to ensure you’re sat together.

Stageside VIP Booth seating is sold out. All ticket options are for 1 seat/admission except for the VIP Booth which covers up to 10. If you’d like to enjoy dinner service, please arrive at least 30 minutes before showtime. Every ticket includes a raffle ticket, additional raffle tickets cannot be purchased. Must be present to win. Winners will be called at the end of intermission. This is an 18+ Show.

Festival of Friends Marketplace: Saturday, April 26 from 5:00-9:00pm
The Festival of Friends Marketplace will be open in the main room and is open to the public. This year’s Market Place will be featuring Codex Creations, Entwining Rose, Merlin’s Mind of Metal, Trixie’s Twisted Wonders and Twin Rituals. Only ticket holders will be able to participate in the raffle. Each show seat includes a raffle ticket to use with the vendor of your choice. The raffle will be called at the end of intermission. Must be present to win.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at BaratokBellyDance@gmail.com
and visit our website for more information.

Twin Cities Flamenco Presents Feria de Abril

The Twin Cities Flamenco Collective presents a vibrant show, Feria de Abril, featuring performances by Twin Cities talents and a lively Sevillanas dance party. Experience the passion and energy of flamenco music and dance in this engaging celebration of Andalusian culture. All are invited to join in festive Flamenco attire and learn Sevillanas dance!

April 27 at 5:00pm
At Icehouse MPLS
Tickets: $15 in advance (+taxes/fees), $22 day of show (+taxes)

Peformers: Anda Flamenco, Bobby “El Eléctrico,” Jeff Lambert, La Amistad, La Bárbara, Sachiko “La Chayí” Flamenco Dance School, Twin Cities Flamenco Collective, Zorongo Flamenco Student Performance Company, and more.

The Twin Cities Flamenco Collective is a dynamic group of Flamenco artists dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich art of flamenco in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. Through performances, education, and community outreach, the collective brings the passion, rhythm, and soul of flamenco to diverse audiences and participants. Comprising skilled dancers and musicians, the members and their guests collaborate to create vibrant and authentic flamenco experiences. Their mission is to foster appreciation for this art and culture from Andalusia, Spain, while building a supportive local community for flamenco artists and aficionados alike. For more information, visit our Facebook.

Great Indian Dance Off

Get ready to dance, compete, and win big at GIDO 2025!

Sunday, April 27, 1:00–5:00pm
Mall of America, Huntington Bank Rotunda

Calling all dancers! Whether you’re a seasoned performer or someone who just loves to move, The Great Indian Dance Off (GIDO) is back and bigger than ever—and you could walk away with up to $3,000 in prize money!

What’s GIDO?
Hosted by South Asian Arts and Theater House (SAATH), GIDO is a high-energy, bracket-style dance competition where teams battle it out in rapid-fire, 30-second rounds. Any dance style is welcome—just make sure it’s set to an Indian song!

Why You Should Join:
$3,000+ in prizes!
1st Place: $1,500
2nd Place: $1,000
3rd Place: $500
Two Audience Favorites: $250 each

Register your team today!
Teams can include up to 5 members.
Open to all ages, genders, ethnicities, and dance styles.
Only $25 per team to register (financial waivers available).

Questions? Email us at info@saathmn.org.

Share with your friends! Bring your squad, bring the heat, and bust out those dance moves! Rally your pals and become their biggest cheerleader at the epic dance-off!

Spring Dance Concert – Minnesota State University, Mankato

Witness the artistry and dedication of the dance faculty, guest artists, and students through original choreography and the culmination of an entire semester’s worth of work. Multiple dance styles will be presented that range from contemporary dance to urban dance.

Performances
Thursday, May 1 at 7:30pm
Friday, May 2 at 7:30pm
Saturday, May 3 at 2:00pm

Threads Dance Project Presents Tapestries 9.0

Threads Dance Project proudly continues its tradition of amplifying new choreographic voices with Tapestries 9.0, a program highlighting emerging choreographers. This year’s production features original works by Colin Edwards, Rachel Lieberman, and Hannah MacKenzie-Margulies, alongside repertory by Artistic Director Karen L. Charles.

The program includes excerpts from Let America Be America, Charles’ powerful work inspired by the chant “Make America Great Again” and the reality that America has never been great for everyone. Through spoken word and dance vignettes, the piece highlights the joys and struggles of “the America that is” and “the America that could be.”

About the Tapestries 9.0 selected works:

  • Colin Edwards explores the manifestation of unity and the circadian rhythms of sisterhood, revealing the ebb and flow of connection through the contrasts of night and day.
  • Rachel Lieberman is trying to make sense of time. Collaging text, textile, movement memories, griefs, and missing pieces, she is asking everybody: how did I get here, and where are we?
  • Hannah MacKenzie-Margulies indulges in millennial nostalgia, reflecting on memories that refuse to fade and futures that failed to materialize, set to a soundtrack of high school anthems resuscitated from home-burned CDs.

Friday, May 2 at 7:30pm
Saturday, May 3 at 7:30pm
Sunday, May 4 at 2:00pm
Tickets: $30 for General Admission, $25 for Seniors, and $22 for Students